Biography Mary Beale

Mrs. Mary Beale (1633-1699)

Born Mary Cradock at Barrow rectory, Suffolk, and baptised on 26 March 1633, the elder of two children of the Revd John Cradock (c.1595-1652), puritan rector of Barrow, and his wife, Dorothy née Brunton or Brinton (d.1643). She received a good education from her father who, as an amateur artist, probably also provided her with tuition in painting. She married on 8 March 1652 Charles Beale (1631-1705), member of a puritan family at Walton Manor, Buckinghamshire. They took up residence at Covent Garden, London, later moving to Hind Court, Fleet Street, and about 1660 Charles succeeded his father as deputy clerk of the patents office. By this time Mary Beale had gained some reputation as
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